Automatic fire-extinguisher.



` sprinkler' heads comprising GUNNAR O. LILJEGREN, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATC 7 Specification of Letters Patent` t rritn-nxrinousnnn.

Patented dan. 5, i915.

Application inea January 12, 1914. serial no. 2311.572.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic fire extinguishers oi the type` buildings for the which are employed. in

admitting streams purpose of automatically .of water in event of a conflagration within the building containing the system.

An object of the invention is to provide an automatic sprinkler head comprising a head adapted to be removably connected to a distributing pipe, and .a yoke or trame formed in connection with the head, in combination with a strut composed of two members interposed between a closure on the head and a binding device mounted in the Yoke or frame.

Another object is to provide a sprinkler head of the class mentioned with an improved strut for holding the closure in position on the head, and comprising two memA 'bers one oit which abuts against the closure, and the other oi''which engages a retaining member on the yoke, said two members being provided with a single point oi" contact for receiving the pressure of the closure. and being retained in position by fusible solder.

A further object ot the invention is to provide an improved strut for automatic two members having a siingleI point ot contact for receiving the pressure, and fusible solder Jfor holding said two members together.

Other objects will appearirom the 'following detail description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which- .Figure l .is a side elevation of a sprinkler `head embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a crossline 3-3 of Fig. l.. -The head l is exteriorly threaded so that it may readily be connected to one of the distributing pipes oi' the extinguisher system in the usual manner. The yoke 2 is formed in connection with the head 1, and supports infits outer end a pressure adjusting screw The head 1 is closedby a closure 4 which may seat against an elastic washer or gasket 5 pressing against the outer end of the head 1. ,it compression plate 6 is seated against the outer surface oi' the closure, and is providedwith a peripheral flange 7 which prevents said piate from accidental displacement.

The strut, which is interposed between the closure and the yoke for holding the closure in position under normal conditions, consists oi? two cooperating members. The outer member 8 is provided with an enlarged portion 9 at its outer extremity and with a concave recess formed in said enlarged portion for receiving the end oi' the adjusting screw 3. The companion member is angular in side elevation, that is with reference to the planev of projection, an consists oiz a portion 11 having one side or face at an angle with respect to a line through the axis of the closure and through the screw 3. The obliquely disposed suri'ace is arranged to be held fiat against the side of the member 8 which is also disposed at an oblique angle with respect to said axial line. Said companion member also includes a portion l2 arranged to press against the compression plate (i to hold the closure in position on the head. The point of union of the portions 1l and l2 is extended to provide a shoulder' having a groove 13 extending from side to side theieo'f,'said groove being adapted to receive andv constitute a bearing ior the rounded end 14 of the member 8. Thus, the pressure 'from within the distributing pipe is transmitted through the portion l2 of the inner compression member to the inner end of the outer member 8 laterally with respect to the axial line through the closure.. The only point of bearing on which the foreelor pressure is transmitted from the member 11-12 to the outer member is within the groove 13 which is lateral from the points of bearing at the ends ofthe two members.

Then the bonding elements, by whichthe two members rare united, become fusible or broken the pressure from within the distributing pipe causes the member 11-12 to turn on the end 14 of the outer member, 4-vhile the outer end of the oblique portion il moves away or separates 'from the member 8 againstwhich it had -been held.

It lis an important Jfeature of the device that the two compression members shall'be angularly disposed las illustrated in Fig. 2. Because of this angular arrangement of the two parts of the strut the pressure from within the distributing pipe will immediately separate and force said two members out of Aposition when the fusible solder is subjected to the degree of heat at .which said solder fuses.

The member 8 and the portion 11 of the cooperating member are provided with firmly held together by bonding elements comprising bodies of fusible solder passing through holes in said members, and provided with enlargements .to engage the outer surfaces of said members to. prevent separation. As .previously mentioned and as illustrated in Fig. 2 the end 141 of the member 8 is in the form of a rounded or beveled shoulder adapted to turn upon the shoulder 13 by force of the pressure within the distributing pipe when the bonding elements of the strut are broken. The space between the beveled surface of the end of the member 8 and the shoulder 13 is iilled with a body of fusible solder 17, whichV cooperates with the bonding elements 15 to hold the two members of the strut in assembled relation. The solder 17 also constitutes a hermetic seal to protect the abutting portions of the strut members from corrosion, so that the dimensions of the two members will not become altered be-` cause of corrosion, or other agents.

' The outer end 18 of the part 11 is also rounded or beveled but, as previously explained, terminates short of the solder formed by the enlargement 9 and so does not abut against or contact with said shoulder. This arrangement leaves the two members of lthe strut free to turn upon. their single point of contact formed by the shoulder 13 of the part 12 and the end 1L of the part 8, when the bonding elements bel come broken or released.

The space between the end 18 of the part 11 and the shoulder formed by the enlargement .9 vis filled with a quantity of fusible solder 19 `which coperates with the remaining bonding elements to hold the members of the strut assembled until all of said bonding elements are released by the heat of the conflagration. The member 8 and the coperating portion 1l are provided with matching beveled surfaces, which form substantially V-shaped grooves in the strut composed of the two members. The spaces or grooves thus formed are filled with a quantity of fusible solder 2() which are united with the bodies of solder 17 and 1!) at the outer edges of the latter to protect all contacting surfaces of thelwo members of the strut from corrosion.

The distributer or deiiector 21 retained permanently in position byl the binding screw 3 so that when the sprinkler head is opened the stream of water will strike the distributer or deiieetor 21 and be spread and distributed over a large area.

The parts are assembled as shown and de` scribed and the sprinkler head is connected tothe distributing pipe in the usual manner.

In case of a fire the bonding elements which hold the two members of the strut together become fused and broken so that all of the pressure of the water is imparted directly from the' portion 12 of one of the strut members to the rounded pivotal portion 14 of the other strut member. Since the point of -contact'lB-M is angularly or laterally dis-` posed with respect to a line through the end l of the screw 3 and the contact point 22 the two members of the strut will be thrown.

aside by ther pressure of the Water. The

stream -of water passing from the pi e' through the sprinkler head strikes the dis-l tributer-or deliector 21 and is thereby distributed or scattered over a considerable rea for the purpose of extinguishing the re. i

It will be understood that there may be :alterations and modifications within equiva bearing on said member between'said oblique face and said line, a second strut member against the oblique face of said first strut memberv and bearing at its inner end against said bearing between said oblique face and said axial line, an enlargedportion at the outer end of said second strut member bearing against said screw, and fusible bonding material interposed between the adjacent ends of said members and extending along the edges of the overlapping portions thereof, substantially as described.

In a deviceof the character described,

the combination with a closure, a yoke andv an adjusting screw in the outer end of said yoke in axial alinement with said closure, of a strut member bearing against said closure, a surface on said strut member at an angle with respect to a line through the axis of said screw and said closure, a bearing on said member-between said surface and said line, a second member against said surface and bearing at its inner end against said messe@ healing between sei surface an. said wiel i'me., an. emerged portion et the outei end. o seid seeend member bearing age-inse lseid sci'ew and seing out ef commet with seid nfstaiame strut member, matching bevee siiieees forming gieoves et 'the side edges of ssimembers, bonding materia-i in seid gi'oeves uniting the side edges ef said members, bending elements passing through iiieifoe'rsv7 substantially es described. En s, device of 'ehe ehaiaetei described, eombimteii with a Closure, yoke and a mounted in said, yoke in Miei aiinen seid Closuie,' oi e strut mounted en said seiew and seici closure and ed of stmt member bearing against closure, e surface on salti strut member ai, en angle with' respect to a line through the exis o seid screw en@ said. closure, e bem,

surface emi samiing 'formeii between said line, second stut member engaging seid. screw and seid bearing, fusible bonding ele meines passing thi'ough seid members, exi/5i fusible bonding meseriai ai; the inner end said second strut membei and et She autel" end of sei first meiiiioned strut member, subsaentialiy es eseiibed.

En 'Witness whereof, li have signed this speeiicaton in the presence of We subscribing Wimesses.

GUNNAR 0. LELJEGREN. `Wiiiesses L, C. KmesigenteE R, M. Liiwimmem 

